International Location Safety

What International Location Safety does

International Location Safety (ILS) is a UK-based security risk management consultancy founded in 2010 by George Shaw and Rebecca Maudling, operating from Haywards Heath, West Sussex with a wholly-owned East Africa subsidiary (Manda Risk Management Solutions Ltd) in Nairobi. The company delivers a portfolio of services organized across three pillars: Training (HEAT 3-day and 1-day Refresher, Personal Safety Awareness Training (PSAT), Travel Safety & Security Training (TSS), Security Risk Management Training (SRMT), Crisis Management Training, First Aid, Field Resilience, and Family Liaison), Travel Risk Management (Travel Safety Briefings, Travel Risk Assessments, ISO 31030 audits, traveller tracking via Vismo), and Risk Advisory Services (Duty of Care audits, policy development, security framework implementation, the RAMP managed-service retainer, and crisis management services). Training is delivered live online via Zoom and in-person in the UK and Kenya, with courses available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, and Ukrainian.

ILS serves NGOs, academic institutions, independent media and human rights organizations, and government agencies — a customer base that includes Oxfam, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, FCDO, the London School of Economics, LSHTM, Global Witness, Human Rights Watch, VISA, Mainstream Renewable Energy, and GIZ. The company has trained more than 10,000 people across 22 countries for 250+ organizations, holds a 99% participant recommendation rate, and operates a multi-channel GTM combining self-serve open enrollment, consultative direct sales, embedded consulting, and event-led acquisition (notably the AidEx Duty of Care Pavilion). Proprietary methodologies include the Duty of Care Benchmarking Matrix (developed 2016) and the Person Centred Risk Profiles (PCRP) framework; the company is bootstrapped, founder-owned, and privately held with no disclosed external funding.

Name

International Location Safety

Legal name

International Location Safety Limited

Website

https://locationsafety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Location Safety (ILS) is a UK-based security risk management consultancy providing safety training, travel risk management, and advisory services to NGOs, academic institutions, media groups, and government agencies operating in complex and high-risk environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Security Risk Management Training and Advisory

NAICS

Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Planning & Risk Assessments (BPABANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Security Assistance & Executive Protection (THACANAF), Crisis Response Management & Incident Support (EDAIAMAD), International Crisis Management & Evacuation Services (BPAIAIAK), Volunteer Safety, Safeguarding & Risk Management Services (EDAIAGAN)

Keywords

• Security risk management
• Hostile environment training
• Travel risk management
• Duty of care advisory
• Humanitarian security training

Headquarters

HQ city

Haywards Heath

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. In-Person Training: Residential and non-residential training courses including HEAT (3-day and refresher), Crisis Management, First Aid, Family Liaison, and Travel Safety. Delivered in UK and Kenya with international delivery available.
2. Online Training: Live instructor-led online courses including PSAT, TSS, SRMT, Crisis Management Online, Field Resilience, and Family Liaison. Offered in multiple languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Ukrainian).
3. Risk Advisory Services: Bespoke consultancy including Duty of Care Audits, Policy Development, Security Framework Implementation, Crisis Management Services, and Security Reviews. Delivered through project work or retainer arrangements.
4. Risk Advisory Management Partnership (RAMP): Outsourced security risk management solution providing dedicated Risk Advisor support. Clients select day/hour allocations monthly for ongoing advisory partnership.
5. Travel Risk Management Services: Travel Safety Briefings (60 min 1-to-1), Travel Risk Assessments (written reports), and ISO 31030 audits with traveller tracking through Vismo partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

International Location Safety (ILS) designs and delivers security risk management services for organisations whose staff work in complex, high-risk and remote environments. The company sells three integrated offerings: instructor-led and live-online safety training (HEAT, PSAT, TSS, SRMT, Crisis Management, First Aid, Field Resilience, Family Liaison); travel risk management (briefings, written assessments, ISO 31030 audits, traveller tracking via Vismo); and bespoke risk advisory (Duty of Care audits, policy and framework development, RAMP outsourced advisory, crisis management support). Services are primarily procured by NGOs, academic institutions, government deployable staff, and independent media and rights organisations, delivered in multiple languages across 22 countries.

Product overview

International Location Safety (ILS) offers a comprehensive suite of security training and risk advisory services for NGOs, academic institutions, media groups, and human rights organizations. The portfolio is organized across three main pillars: (1) Training Services including HEAT (3-day and 1-day Refresher), Personal Safety Awareness Training (PSAT), Travel Safety & Security Training (TSS), Security Risk Management Training (SRMT), Crisis Management Training, First Aid Training, Field Resilience & Stress Management Training, and Family Liaison Training; (2) Travel Risk Management including Travel Safety Briefings, Travel Risk Assessments, ISO31030 Audits, and Traveller Tracking via Vismo; and (3) Risk Advisory Services including Duty of Care Audits, Policy Development, Security Framework Implementation, Risk Advisory Management Partnership (RAMP), and Crisis Management Services. Operations in East Africa are delivered through subsidiary Manda Risk Management Solutions. Training is available in multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, and Ukrainian.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manda Risk Management Solutions: ILS East Africa Office - subsidiary company delivering localised security risk management consultancy, HEAT training, crisis management, and bespoke training services for clients across East Africa from Nairobi, Kenya.

Products and services

• Personal Safety Awareness Training (PSAT) Advanced online personal safety and security training course covering the key classroom learning objectives of a HEAT course in an online format, combining experiential learning, group exercises and classroom-based presentations. Delivered over five 180-minute sessions for staff travelling to or working in medium-to-high-risk environments.
• Travel Safety & Security Training (TSS) Live online travel safety and security training delivered in five 90-minute sessions across one week, designed for clients travelling to low and medium risk contexts. Covers situational awareness, understanding human aggression, and responding to specific threats.
• Security Risk Management Training (SRMT) 8-week online training course designed for security focal points and those with security risk management responsibilities. Delivered in English and French with weekly modules covering duty of care, security strategies, risk assessment, contingency planning, and incident management.
• ILS HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) 3-day UK 3-day residential training course designed for those travelling to or working in remote and high-risk settings. Covers personal safety and security, situational awareness, road travel, accommodation safety, and crisis response.
• ILS HEAT Refresher 1-day UK 1-day non-residential training course for anyone needing to refresh their HEAT training. Available for participants who have completed an ILS PSAT online course in the last 12 months.
• HEAT Training Kenya (3-day residential) ILS HEAT 3-day training delivered at ILS's training centre near Nairobi, Kenya. Contracted through the Kenyan subsidiary Manda Risk Management Solutions Ltd.
• Crisis Management Training Interactive, simulation-based learning experiences for crisis managers covering either Critical Incident Management or Safeguarding Incident Management. Includes workshop and simulation training packages with tailored scenarios and live actors.
• First Aid Training RFQ Level 3 Award (England, Northern Ireland & Wales) Emergency First Aid at Work certification, adapted as First Aid in the Field Training for clients deploying overseas.
• Field Resilience & Stress Management Training 3-hour trauma-sensitive course led by a mental health practitioner building capacity to understand physiology of stress, short and long-term consequences of exposure, and practical tools for stress management.
• Family Liaison Training Training for crisis managers, HR professionals, or staff likely involved in family outreach during emergencies. Covers difficult conversations, communication skills, de-escalation, and organisational protocols with live roleplayers and a psychologically safe learning environment.
• Travel Safety Briefing 60-minute 1-to-1 online briefing with a Travel Risk Advisor covering destination security situation, safety guidance, personal vulnerability considerations, and Q&A. Available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese at a single destination price of £399 including VAT.
• Travel Risk Assessment Personalised written safety and security advisory report including country information, security context overview, recent incident register, political/geographic/economic context, personal risk profile, and overall risk rating for the trip. Available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese at a single destination price of £1,150 including VAT.
• ISO 31030 Audits Independent audit of an organisation's Travel Risk Management policies and practices, benchmarked against ISO 31030 (International Standard for Travel Risk Management).
• Traveller Tracking Traveller tracking service provided through partnership with Vismo, enabling organisations to easily locate and communicate with staff wherever they are in the world.
• Duty of Care Benchmarking & Risk Audit The Discover Phase involving audit and review of existing risk management systems, policies and practices. ILS developed a Duty of Care Benchmarking Matrix to assess how effectively organisations meet legal and moral duty of care obligations.
• Policy Development The Develop phase involving creation of risk management documentation including Risk Management Policies, Country Security Risk Management Plans, Contingency and Evacuation Plans, Incident and Crisis Management Plans, Standard Operating Procedures, and Threat Analysis Tools.
• Security Framework Implementation The Implement phase supporting organisations with change management for improving security culture, including training, mentoring, communications strategy, events, and multimedia content creation.
• Risk Advisory Management Partnership (RAMP) A fully managed, outsourced security risk management solution providing a dedicated Risk Advisor. Offers Risk Management Leadership, Operational Security, Travel Risk Management, and Learning & Development support on a configurable monthly basis.
• Crisis Management Services Comprehensive crisis management support including preparation (policy development), training, simulations with live actors, response to critical incidents, and after-action reviews.
• Manda Risk Management Solutions (East Africa delivery) ILS East Africa Office - a locally registered subsidiary wholly owned and operated by ILS, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Delivers localised HEAT training, crisis management, security reviews, and bespoke training for the East Africa region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of training participants would recommend ILS to colleagues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• Diversity TravelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecialist Travel Management Company providing integrated service to charity, academic and not-for-profit sectors. Provides exclusive humanitarian and academic air fares and travel arrangements supporting ILS clients.
• DataminrsupportingTechnology or IntegrationReal-time information discovery company providing critical insights from over one million public data sources through AI and machine learning for risk alerts.
• VismocoreTechnology or IntegrationPersonal tracking software provider enabling ILS to offer robust traveller tracking for global, local, or remote teams. Currently locates and protects over 450,000 mobile staff.
• HpasscoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital badge scheme provider for all ILS training courses. Essential resource for humanitarian staff, volunteers, recruiters, line managers, HR professionals.
• GISF (Global Interagency Security Forum)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember-led NGO forum with over 125 member organisations. ILS is affiliate member contributing to sector-wide security risk management best practice development.
• RiskPalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint webinar series on University Travel Risk Management covering travel TRM, psychological safety, and technology solutions for universities.
• AidExflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerILS hosts and curates the Duty of Care Pavilion and Conference at AidEx Geneva, featuring 18 exhibitors, 43 speakers, and 570+ attendees in 2024.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Centurion Risk Management Services: Boutique UK-based HEAT, security, and travel risk provider serving NGOs, journalists, and academics. Closely aligned with ILS on product mix and customer profile, competing for similar institutional RFPs in the NGO and academic duty-of-care space.
• Drum Cussac: International risk management consultancy offering travel risk, security advisory, and crisis management to corporate and NGO clients. Direct competitor to ILS for travel risk management and embedded risk advisor engagements in EMEA and East Africa.
• Safer Edge: Specialist HEAT, travel risk, and security training provider focused on humanitarian, development, and media sectors. Directly comparable to ILS in customer segments (humanitarian/NGO) and product offering (HEAT, crisis management, gender-responsive training).
• Pilgrims Group: UK-headquartered security and risk management company delivering HEAT and security training to NGOs, media, and corporate clients. Closest direct competitor to ILS in the UK-based HEAT delivery market for the humanitarian, academic, and media segments.
• Anvil Group: Specialist travel risk management firm offering traveller tracking, intelligence, and consulting. Overlaps with ILS's travel risk management, ISO 31030 advisory, and tracker-based services (potentially competing with the Vismo-enabled tracking offering).

Broad incumbents

• International SOS: World's largest medical and security assistance company providing 24/7 traveller tracking, evacuation, and risk advisory. Overlapping travel risk management, ISO-aligned audits, and crisis management services make it a direct competitor for ILS's institutional travel risk and large-NGO engagements.
• Crisis24 (GardaWorld): Integrated risk management firm combining travel risk, executive protection, and crisis response. Competitively overlaps with ILS's NGO/government duty-of-care work and brings larger technological infrastructure (especially tracking/assistance platforms).
• Control Risks: Global security and political risk consultancy offering travel risk management, crisis response, and security advisory. Much larger (1,000+ staff, 30+ offices) with overlapping duty-of-care offerings aimed at corporate and NGO clients that compete head-to-head with ILS's travel risk and advisory services.

Emerging players

• Riskline: Travel risk intelligence and advisory platform serving travel managers, NGOs, and corporates. Comparable to ILS's Travel Risk Assessment and ISO 31030 audit offerings with a stronger technology/data subscription model.

Others

• GISF (Global Interagency Security Forum): Member-led NGO security forum that ILS affiliates with; not a competitor per se but an ecosystem participant shaping sector best practice and steering NGO security budgets whose members overlap entirely with ILS's primary customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-location-safety

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Location Safety